CBS News announced a new policy this week that its long-running Sunday program Face the Nation will broadcast only live or live-to-tape interviews, a change the network said was aimed at increasing transparency after a public uproar over allegations that a recent interview had been deceptively edited.
The network said audiences will see “the full, unedited interview” on television and online and that the new practice responds to “audience feedback over the past week.” In a statement to The Post, CBS said Face the Nation "will now only broadcast live or live-to-tape interviews (subject to national security or legal restrictions)."
The policy shift follows criticism from South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who said portions of her remarks were deceptively edited after an appearance on the program. CBS did not disclose editorial details tied to the specific interview in its announcement. Semafor first reported the network’s planned change in practice.
Under the new approach, Face the Nation will present interviews either live or in a format recorded "live-to-tape," meaning conversations will be aired as captured during the interview session rather than edited down for later broadcast. The network’s statement said exceptions would be made when national security or legal restrictions require redaction or withholding of material.
CBS framed the policy as a response to viewer concerns about transparency in political interviews, saying the move would prevent similar disputes. The network did not elaborate on internal review processes or how producers will determine when the national security or legal carve-outs apply.
Observers cautioned that the carve-out could become a focal point for future disputes whenever producers invoke it to trim material. The network’s pledge to post full interviews online aims to give audiences access to raw footage, a step media outlets increasingly adopt to address questions about context and editing.
Face the Nation, CBS News’ flagship Sunday public-affairs program, has long been a platform for interviews with elected officials, cabinet members and other national figures. Television interview editing has periodically become controversial in recent years as politicians and viewers scrutinize how networks present exchanges.
CBS did not provide a timeline for when the new policy would take full effect or indicate whether it would extend to other news programs. The network’s statement reiterated its commitment to transparency but did not provide additional operational details. Semafor’s reporting and CBS’ statement to The Post are the primary public accounts of the change as officials and producers consider how to implement the policy.
The policy announcement comes as networks face heightened scrutiny over how political content is presented to viewers ahead of competitive election cycles, and as officials and audiences continue to press for clarity about how interview footage is edited and distributed.
CBS did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment beyond its statement to The Post. The network declined in that statement to provide examples of the national security or legal scenarios that might limit airing full interviews, leaving questions about how frequently the carve-out will be invoked and what oversight will apply.